A project to develop a discreet, non-verbal incident reporting platform to make travel on public transport safer won a share last month of £1.4 million in government funding – and its developers are inviting the industry to trial it.
The ‘Safe Travels’ application from Inclutech was one of 32 pioneering projects named to benefit from this year’s Transport Research and Innovation Grants (TRIG) allocation from the Department for Transport.
The app-based solution is “aimed at empowering vulnerable passengers and enhancing safety for both passengers and transport staff across the UK’s transport systems”.
Safe Travels offers a real-time reporting tool that doesn’t rely on verbal communication. This means it is accessible for those with communication challenges, including those deaf or hard of hearing, neurodivergent, or non-native English speakers. It enables quick, silent reporting but also allows for photo- and video-based evidence-gathering.
The non-verbal nature of the reporting means it could be done without drawing attention, helping protect vulnerable passengers. Reporting is carried out in real-time and includes location data to facilitate speedy response.
The platform’s analytics capability is also designed to help transport authorities identify patterns so that resources can be allocated appropriately. The aim is for the data to be able to be integrated with existing systems.
Inclutech says of the project: “By providing a reliable, safe reporting method, Safe Travels aims to restore commuter confidence in public transport.”
The app’s developer is interested to hear from transport operators and industry experts to pilot the app. Email info@inclutech.co for more information.
Also among the winners bidders is Streetwise Technology. Although its application is aimed generally at improving safety at zebra crossings, the business believes it could be of particular use in bus stations.
Streetwise Technology CEO Dorian Isaacson explains: “At the moment, the Belisha beacons at zebra crossings may indicate that there is a crossing, but they don’t indicate that there is a person on the crossing.
“Our system uses sensor technology to detect when a pedestrian has entered the crossing and, when a vehicle is in proximity, we then trigger the flashing lights and, if the vehicle fails to slow down or stop, we increase the intensity and can change the pattern of the lights.
“Our objective is to solve the number one reason why [pedestrians] are struck by a vehicle in the UK and that is that the driver failed to see the pedestrian.”
Data collection is another aspect of the system, which is in DfT-funded trials at Portsmouth International Port. Mr Isaacson says: “The Port is measuring the relationship between pedestrians and vehicles. That might also be applicable to bus terminals, where you have interactions between pedestrians and buses or coaches.”
